Barrett Prendergast : One Bowl Banana Bread

 Q + A

Tell me about yourself!

I am a mama of two boys (Costa, age 6 and Paolo, age 2), a foodie and founder of luxury gifting company Valleybrink Road.

What do you love about this recipe, and how has it helped you with feeding your toddler?

There is nothing better than discovering an easy recipe that your whole family will actually eat! Because it all comes together in one bowl, there are less dishes, and you and your toddler can enjoy it as a quick breakfast or satisfying afternoon snack. Wrap individual, thick slices of banana bread, freeze them, and defrost in the fridge or reheat in the oven when you are ready to have a slice. Sometimes, I like to put a little Coconut Whipped Cream on mine for a little something extra.

What is your biggest tip when it comes to feeding a toddler?

Don’t give up on showing them new foods! I try to have at least one item on the plate I know they like, and then I fill in with others that might include something new or something they haven’t wanted to eat in the past. Costa wouldn’t touch broccoli for almost a year, but I just kept putting it on his plate. Finally, this past month, he is back to eating every last bite of it when I roast it in the oven and get it crispy. They are always changing so keep trying to keep their meals a little interesting.

What is your current eating challenge and how are you working to overcome it/how did you overcome it?

I guess the challenge right now is that everyday what they like and don’t like changes. One day they don’t eat pasta anymore, another day it’s no more sandwiches. I just try to have a healthy rotation of options and if they are hungry enough, they are gonna eat something.

How do you keep your child entertained when prepping a meal?

I try to include them in the cooking! Letting them wash veggies in the sink, or stir the pancake batter. Simple tasks. Even setting them up on the floor with some play dough and a baking sheet so they can make their own pretend meal while I get dinner going, is a great way to keep them occupied while you cook.

Follow Barrett at: @barrettprendergast and Valleybrink Road at: @valleybrinkroad